Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson took off the walking boot on his left foot Monday. He said Patterson suffered just a "bruise" on his left ankle during his final kickoff return in the 19-13 overtime victory over the Bucs on Sunday.
Patterson said after the game he wore the boot just as a precaution. He remained in the game after the injury on the offense's final drive to force overtime.
Zimmer said he hasn't talked to guard Vladimir Ducasse yet about the knee injury that kept him out of the game. He wouldn't give any further details on who he planned to play at right guard this week against Washington.
Zimmer also spent part of the press conference defending punter Jeff Locke, who had three touchbacks and averaged just 35.1 net yards on eight punts.
"I really think Jeff's a good punter," Zimmer said. "I really do. I think he's a very, very good punter. I think he tries to be too precise sometimes."
